Abandoned Warehouse to Be Transformed into Lush Zero-Energy Office Space in Amsterdam

Worldwide sustainability cooperative Except has renovated an abandoned shipyard in Amsterdam, transforming it into an energy-neutral office space filled with lush vegetation. The jungle-like space features food producing modules based on hydroponic and aquaponic systems and can be customized to spaces of various sizes.

The Crystal Forest concept originates from Except’s own search for a new office space in Amsterdam. The team found an abandoned historic shipyard and decided to settle there, designing a space that would soon become part of a broader design strategy.

The space was designed as a modular system of greenhouse-like cocoons that can be quickly assembled to fit a wide variety of spaces. It is entirely self-contained and offers an eco-friendly solution to reusing old industrial warehouses and buildings. The plants are irrigated using rain water which is automatically fed into the planters, with nutrients added along the way.